Radiator construction



Oct. 29, 1935.

o. c. PALMER RADIATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 9,.1951- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v WIFIFI I HMHI I m y K OC PALMER ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1935.

o. c. PALMER RADIATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xix INVENTOR O.C.PALME|2 BY ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to radiator constructions, and has for an object the provision of an'improved and simplified radiator construction of the type commonly employed in conjunction with internal combustion motors.

A more detailed object is to provide a radiator construction comprising spaced water tube members and corrugated fins disposed in the air passages therebetween, so as to divide each air passage into a plurality of parallel air cells, and in which the area of contact between each fin and the water tube member on each side thereof is established at a large number of places, so as to increase the efiiciency of the radiator in conducting heat from the water flowing through the tubes to the radiating fins.

Another object is to provide a large number of cutting edges presented to the air flowing through the air cells, these cutting edges being formed on portions of the metal of the fins, each of which is partially severed from the remainder of the associated fin, thereby increasing the efiiciency of the fins in transferring to the air the heat which is delivered thereto from the water tube members.

A further object is to provide novel and highly efficient means for interconnecting each of the two plates of which each water tube member is composed, thereby assisting materially in the process of manufacture of the radiator construction, and also adding materially to the rigidity of the. completed radiator construction.

A still further object is to provide a radiator construction having the above described characteristics, and which is particularly adapted to mass production, inasmuch as each of the several portions thereof may be manufactured by machine rolling and/or machine stamping at a high rate of production, and as a result of the interlocking features of the various elements of the radiator whereby they are securely and accurately held in proper relative position until final soldering.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the lnventions particular embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a radiator construction embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig, 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and the direction of view by the arrows.

fac'eabutment.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1, and the direction of view by the arrows.

Fig. 4c is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing a slightly modified form of radiator'construction 5 embodying principles of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 5-5-of Fig. 4 and the direction of view by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the 10 plane of section being indicated by the line B--6 of Fig. l, with the direction of View as indicated.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 'l-'! of Fig. 4, with the direction of view as indicated.

Referring first to that modification of my inventionwhich is illustrated upon Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, my improved radiator construction comprises a plurality of water tube members, indicated in their entirety at H, disposed in spaced parallel relationship to define air passages l2 between each adjacent pair of water tube members II. A radiating fin i 3 is disposed in each of the air passages l2. Each fin I3 is corrugated with the corrugations I4 thereof extending transversely, i. e., perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal dimensions of the water tube members ll. Hence, each of the air passages I2 is divided into a plurality of parallel air cells I6 extending from front to back of the radiator construction'.

Each of the water tube members ii comprises a pair of plates I! and I8 arranged in face-to- Each of the plates I1, I 8 is provided with a plurality of beads IQ extending longitudinally thereof and projecting from the outer face of the plate. These beads are formed by extruding the metal of the plate, with the result that each bead is hollow, thus defining a channel 2| in the inner face of the plate. 40 The two plates I? and E8 of each water tube member H are arranged with their channels 2| in registry with each other, with the result that they cooperate to define water tubes 22 extending longitudinally of the water tube members ll.

At their upper and lower ends the plates l1 and I8 are bent over into perpendicularity with the remainder of the plates, thus presenting horizontal flanges 23, each of which is of sufficient width to engage the outer edge of the flange 23 of the proximal plate of the next adjacent water tube member ll. Preferably, a lap joint 24 is established between these interengaging flanges 23, it being understood that this lap joint is solderedor otherwise permanently fastened so V V asto interengage the flanges 23 and thus develop 7 a unitary structure composed of a plurality of the water tube members H and the fins ,|3 arranged therebetween. V V V V r The corrugations M of each of the fins |3 cor- :respond in height, measured perpendicularly to the planes of the water tube members II, to the I distance between the water tube members, this shape 'of thecorrugations remain, these tongues being adapted to'extend into engagement Withi "the associated water tube member I between the longitudinally extending beads |9 thereof. Each. of" the depressions 3| preferably substantially corresponds in length to the width of the" bead |9 which lsto beseated therein.

g :The formation! of each'depression 3| results in the provision of an excess of metal 36 which is deflected into the air cell |6 directly opposite the crest 32 from Which'the excess metal 36 has been struck. This metal 36 extends from one i wall3'l of the associated air cell |6 to the other well. 38 in a plurality of planes, as best shown upon Figs. 2 and 3, as a result of the fact that v itis of-greater length than the distance, measurea in'a straight line, between the two ends of that portion of the fin which is struck. from the body thereof in forming the depression 3|. Moreover, the front and rear ends'of each of the sections 36 of metal are severed from the remainder V 1 of the fin l3, leaving each portionv 36 f excess 'metal connected to the fin only at its ends. Ac-

cordingly, each portion 36 of'excess metal presents cutting edges to the air flowingthrough theassociat'ed aircell 5, which serve to mate- .riallyincrease the efficiency of the radiator in disseminating heat extracted-from the water flowing through the water tubes 22. This results fromthe fact that when a stream of air is cut I by a relatively sharp edge much more intimate contactvbe'tween the flowing air and the metal is established than-when the air'is flowing against 1 afrounded' edge or flat 'surface.-Also, the presence of the plurality of cutting edges develops a turbulence in the air streams, causing'them-to be divided into a plurality of smaller air'streams jwhich are interrupted in their normally straight flow from front to back of the radiator construction, and thus caused to impinge more force gfully against the walls 37, 38 of the corrugations. l4 or againstthe walls of the water-tube mem-' bers This turbulence is further increasedbe- 'c'ause of the fact that each air cell l6 'isin communication with those cellsnimmediately thereabove and therebelow, through the openings 39 which. are formed when the portions 36 of V excess metal are severed along their front and rear. side edges from the remainder of the ass iciatedfin'l3. H

K'Preferablythese lines of severance whereby the openings 39 are formed, extend to bothsides of the associated crest 32, but to a eaterdis-f 'tance in one walLsay the wall 31, than in the other wall 38' of the associated corrugation l4.

Accordingly, each of the sections 36which is extruded into each air cell |6 comprises ,a;portion 4| disposed in a substantially vertical plane,

and aportion 42 disposed ina substantially horisult that a greater degree of turbulence and still It 'is-obvious; of course, that themselves offer baffles or obstructions to ithe 7 zontal plane; and on account of the fact the entire section 36 lies in a plurality 'ofplanes, the cutting edges 43 formed at the front and rear side edges thereof are disposed in crooked f lines instead of in straight lines, this feature 5' enhancing the tendency for the cutting edgesyf to increase the turbulence within the air streams flowingthrough the radiator construction."

In the construction illustrated u on Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive the extruded sections 36 are formed with each alternate extruded section 36 deflected in the opposite direction. For example, the ex-' truded 'section 36' of any 'givenicrest 32 which is proximal to thefront of the radiator construction is deflected upwards from one wall 38, of

. thecorrugation l4 into the air cell l6 thereabove. 'I'hefnext'extruded' portion 36 toward the after surface of the radiator construction and of the same-crest 32 is deflected downwards from thef opposite wall 3'! of the same corrugation M and into'the .sameLair cell' lfi. 'Hence, the air streams flowing "through the several air cells" I 6 encountercutting edges at many more places, with the rehigher cooling efficiency are obtained. I

'It'will be observed that in the modification already'described the water tubes 22 are of somewhat angular configuration, considered ina transverse plane. However, in the modiflcation illustrated upon Figs. 4'to, 7*inclusive, each V of the beads 5| which projects .from the outer surfaces of the platesi52cand 53,,whereby the waterftube members 54 are defined, is rounded V in transverse. configuration, as best shown upon Fig. 5; In order'to establish the greatest amount of contact between the radiating fins 56 and the water tube members 54, the depressions, 51 which are formed in each of the crests 58 are comple mentarily shaped. This establishes contactbetween each bead 5| and the metal of the asso 40, V ciated fin 56 throughout substantially theentire width of ,thebead 5| Hence, intimate contactis established between-the water tubemembers 54 I and theradiating fins 56 at the closest possible location 'to the water which is flowing through the'water tubes 59, it being-understoodthatthese tubes-59 are defined by the hollow interior porviously described modification.

vtions of' the beads 5| as in the case of the pre- In order 'toflprovide the roundedflrecesses 51, .5

it isnecessary to form additional depressed portions 6| by secondary crimping after the extruded vportions62 have been formed as described here-' Einabove in conjunction with the. first described modification. However, these secondarydepres sions 6| areform'ed only at the. centralportion of. each depression 51, with the resultthat the extruded portion '62 is rounded. so that the: air

' streams flowing through'the various air cell's 163 encounter stillxanother set 'ofw'obstructions tem f" their normal straight flow throughithe radiator.

{roundness results from the fact that the I metal extruded'when forming the secondary, de-

pressions 6| is not severed from the remainder of the nu, and consequently a bump or rounded g5 protrusion is formedupon each extruded section ,62, as will best be understood by observation of Fig. 4.

the beads straight flow of the air streams through the air "cells, causingthe air impinging against theirfor I wardor leading edges, which ofcourseiare in-" clind with respect to the directionofthemotion l of .the 'air .with respect thereto to be swung.

against the air cells and t impinge against the inclined walls of the associated air cell with additional force.

Another feature of convenience in my improved radiator construction is the manner of interconnection of the two plates 52 and 53 defining each of the water tube members 54. A secondary head 66 is formed by crimping the metal of one of the plates, say the plate 52, so as to extrude the metal from the inner face of the plate, this bead extending longitudinally of the plate 52 between adjacent water tube forming beads A complementary channel 61 is similarly formed in the opposed plate 53, the bead 66 being seated within the channel 61 so as to hold the two plates 52 and 53 with the channels 68 presented by the hollow interiors of the beads 5| in registry with each other, thereby defining the longitudinally extending water tubes 59. The two plates 52 and 53 are held in face-to-face engagement by crimping the front and rear edges of one plate around and in tight engagement with the corresponding edges of the other plate,

as best illustrated upon Fig. 5. This crimping,-

which is indicated at H, holds the plates 52 and 53 together, so as to retain the secondary beads 66 seated within their sockets 61, thereby establishing a cooperation whereby the plates 52 and 53 are retained accurately and rigidly in proper relative position until the entire radiator construction is soldered.

It is believed that the method of operation of the various modifications of my improved radiator construction will be readily understood from the above description of their constituent parts by anyone skilled in the art to which the present invention appertains.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a radiator construction, a water tube member comprising a pair of plates arranged face-to-face and having registering channels in their inner faces defining water tubes, one of said plates having a groove formed therein between and substantially parallel to said channels, and a ridge on the other'plate complementary to and seated within said groove to hold said plates with their channels in registry.

2. In a radiator construction, a water tube member comprising a pair of plates arranged face-to-face and having longitudinally extending channels in their inner faces defining water tubes, one of said plates having a longitudinally extend- -ing groove formed therein between said channels,

and a ridge on the other plate complementary to and seated within said groove to hold said plates with their channels in registry.

3. A fin for spacing water tube members of a radiator, comprising a plate having transverse corrugations, a portion of the crest of each corrugation being deflected inwards to provide a, section of excess material lying within the concave side of the associated corrugation, and each of said sections of excess material being severed from the remainder of said plate along that edge thereof which is proximal to the front of the radiator, thereby presenting a cutting edge to the stream of air flowing through the radiator, the line of severance of each of said sections extending from the crest of the associated corrugation into both side walls thereof, but to a greater distance in one side wall than in the other, thereby presenting a section which is asymmetrical with respect to the associated corrugation, and adjacent sections in each corrugation being misaligned with respect to each other.

4. A fin for spacing water tube members of a radiator, comprising a plate having transverse corrugations, a portion of the crest of each of said corrugations being deflected inwards to provide a section of excess material lying within the concave side of the associated corrugation, said sections of excess material being severed from the remainder of said plate along their front and rear edges to present cutting edges to the stream of air flowing through said radiator, the lines of severance of each section extending from the crest of the associated corrugation into both side walls thereof, but to a greater distance in one side wall than in the other, thereby presenting a section which is asymmetrical with respect to the associated corrugation, and adjacent sections in each corrugation being disaligned with respect to each other.

OSCAR C. PALMER. 

